Nancy Mace defends 'Trojan horse' remark after CNN grills her over comments on Muslim officials

WASHINGTON, DC: Republican Rep Nancy Mace (R-SC) faced a tense exchange with CNN anchor Omar Jimenez on Sunday, August 9, after he challenged her over recent comments about Muslims holding public office.

Mace defended a post she shared on Friday, August 7, in which she wrote that “Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a trojan horse, and a threat to both national security and our republic.”

During the interview, Mace said she was referring specifically to Muslim elected officials and cited concerns about what she described as radical Islam ideology.

Nancy Mace defends Muslim public office remarks

Jimenez asked Mace whether her original statement meant that anyone who is Muslim posed a threat to the United States. Mace rejected that characterization and said her comments were directed only at elected officials.

“No, I was talking about elected officials,” Mace said.

She then singled out New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, citing their political associations as reasons she said Americans should be concerned about what she described as “radical Islam ideology.”

She cited Mamdani's campaign associations and El-Sayed's association with political streamer Hasan Piker, while also referencing Piker's previously reported comments about the September 11 attacks.

The discussion then turned to Muslim cultural practices and religious expression in the United States. Mace raised concerns about women wearing burqas and the public call to prayer in American cities.

“I don't want to hear the call to prayer five times a day in an American city,” Mace said.

Jimenez responded by distinguishing personal discomfort with religious practices from constitutional protections.

“Well, if you don't want to hear it, that's okay. The First Amendment protects, the First Amendment, excuse me, protects freedom of religion,” he said.

Mace maintained that religious practices should remain within mosques or private homes. 

Nancy Mace stands by controversial statements

The exchange followed a series of recent posts and remarks from Mace concerning immigration and the political views of Muslim Americans.

In a post on X on Friday, August 7, Mace wrote that “Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a trojan horse, and a threat to both national security and our republic.”

Mace has also previously linked her concerns about immigration and political loyalty to legislative proposals.

In May, she proposed a constitutional amendment requiring members of Congress, federal judges, and certain federal officials to be natural-born citizens. While announcing the proposal, she said federal officials should have “one loyalty: America. Not Somalia.”

Following the interview, Mace continued defending her position on X, writing, “You cannot pledge allegiance to the US Constitution and Sharia Law at the same time. One is a roadmap for freedom, the other is a blueprint for tyranny. Islam has no place in Western society.”